Within just a few hours of the city, you can visit golden forests, sip cider in historic villages, and snap all the fall foliage pics your heart desires.
Here are eight road trips under three hours from Montreal that lead to autumn wonderlands with stunning fall colours. Grab a hot drink, make sure there's room in your camera roll, and get ready to go!
Gatineau Park
Location: Gatineau, QC
Why You Need To Go: About 2 hours and 20 minutes from Montreal, Gatineau Park is a stunning conservation park located in the National Capital Region.
The park occupies more than 361 square kilometres, making it the largest green space in the area, and is home to mountains, lakes, caves, waterfalls, ruins and scenic lookouts.
The park is an especially beautiful place to visit in the fall, as the leaves change colour and drape its many attractions in shades of red, orange and gold.
Some of the best spots to see fall colours in the park include Pink Lake, a turquoise lake surrounded by red and orange foliage in autumn, and the Mer Bleue Bog, where you can walk along a boardwalk through a 7,700-year-old bog framed by fall colours.
King Mountain is also a great lookout spot for seeing the autumn leaves, offering a spectacular view of the Ottawa River Valley.
National Capital Commission website
La Mauricie National Park
Location: Shawinigan, QC
Why You Need To Go: Considered one of the "most beautiful sites in Quebec," La Mauricie National Park is a must-visit during peak foliage.
The park, which is located just over 2 hours from Montreal, is home to an immense forest covering more than 536 square kilometres with 150 lakes and many hiking trails of varying difficulties to suit every ability.
A must-see in the Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc sector of the park is the Cascades Trail, a 1-hour trek that leads to impressive waterfalls surrounded by trees.
There are several lookouts in the park that allow visitors to observe the magnificent landscapes of the area. ÃŽle-aux-Pins Lookout is a favoured spot in the park, offering a stunning view of the Laurentian forest and Wapizagonke Lake.
The Lac-Benoît Lookout is another great spot for seeing fall colours, overlooking a picturesque lake surrounded by forest.
Parks Canada website
Coaticook
Location: Coaticook, QC
Why You Need To Go: Just under 2 hours from Montreal, Coaticook is a town in the Eastern Townships region that's chock-full of attractions, activities, nature and culture.
The town is home to a charming downtown area full of heritage, as well as beautiful outdoor attractions offering stunning views of the changing leaves.
Here, you'll find the Parc de la Gorge de Coaticook, home to the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in North America, hiking and mountain biking trails, and the popular Foresta Lumina, an illuminated forest walk experience.
The park is a great place to take in the fall colours from the bridge, and also offers two observation towers, a cave, a dam, and waterfalls.
Mont Hereford is another popular outdoor spot in the region, offering scenic streams, falls, and a vast forest that turns to shades of red and gold in the fall. Head to the top of Mount Hereford for a 360-degree panoramic view of the changing leaves.
Tourisme Coaticook website
Mont-Tremblant
Location: Mont-Tremblant, QC
Why You Need To Go: Located just under 2 hours from Montreal, Mont-Tremblant is a cute town with tons to see and do.
While it's known for being a popular ski destination, there are also plenty of reasons to visit in the fall, including the town's wide variety of scenic hiking and biking trails where you can admire the autumn foliage.
Mont-Tremblant National Park is an especially great spot to go for a fall hike, with beautiful landscapes featuring mountains, forests and picturesque bodies of water, as well as opportunities for sighting local wildlife, like white-tailed deer, river otter and red fox.
Just 10 minutes from the heart of the town, you can also visit the Sentier des cimes Laurentides, a treetop walk that allows you to get panoramic views of the changing leaves.
Once you've had your fill of nature, head to the downtown area for restaurants, cafes and shopping.
Tourism Mont-Temblant website
Parc Omega
Location: 399 Route 323 N., Montebello, QC
Why You Need To Go: Located about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Montreal, Parc Omega is a year-round nature park where you can see a variety of Canadian wildlife.
Here, visitors can enjoy a 12-kilometre self-drive safari through the 890-hectare preserve, where you might spot deer, elk, bison, caribou and other animals roaming in their natural habitats.
The park also offers several hiking trails from where you can admire the fall foliage, including an aerial boardwalk where you can walk from tree to tree.
Other activities in the park include visiting an old farmhouse, wolf observation and horse-drawn carriage rides.
Until November, visitors can also enjoy the Oniro trail, a nighttime forest walk and immersive journey that combines projections, enchanting scenery, and spellbinding music.
Parc Omega website
North Hatley
Location: North Hatley, QC
Why You Need To Go: Nestled in the Eastern Townships region at the tip of Lake Massawippi, North Hatley is a picturesque village where fall feels extra magical.
The village, which is known as one of the most beautiful small towns of Quebec, is home to quaint streets lined with heritage homes, cute B&Bs, boutique shops, and cozy cafes and restaurants, making it the perfect place for an autumn stroll.
It's located just an hour and a half from Montreal, making it perfect for a fall day trip.
The beginning of the fall, when the leaves start to change, is a spectacular time to tour the area by bike or on foot.
Until mid-October, you can also shop for fresh fruits and vegetables, breads, cheeses, honey, flowers, and much more at the North Hatley Farmer's Market.
Village of North Hatley website
Merrickville
Location: Merrickville, ON
Why You Need To Go: Known as the "jewel" of the Rideau River, Merrickville is a small Victorian village full of charm.
The village is located about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Montreal, making it great for a day trip or weekend getaway.
Walking through downtown Merrickville is like stepping back in time, with 19th-century stone buildings, a town crier, and streetscapes that reflect the era of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.
While the village is a lovely year-round destination, fall brings even more beauty to the area as the leaves change into brilliant shades of red, orange and gold.
Head to Merrickville's charming downtown core, where you'll find unique shops, artist studios, boutiques and restaurants, many sporting adorable fall decor. Or, visit the Merrickville Ruins for a taste of local history and the perfect way to take in the changing leaves.
Merrickville-Wolford website
Stowe
Location: Vermont, US
Why You Need To Go: Stowe is a beautiful town in the U.S. state of Vermont, located just over 2 hours from Montreal.
The town offers a postcard-worthy downtown area with well-preserved historic buildings, scenic parks and forest areas, and unique cultural experiences that make it worth crossing the border for.
Stowe is frequently cited as one of the top destinations for fall foliage in the United States, where vibrant autumn colours paint the landscape in stunning shades of red, orange, and gold.
The beautiful foliage can be seen all around town, but some spots offer particularly great viewing. Smuggler's Notch State Park offers hiking and climbing as well as a narrow, winding road that cuts through the Green Mountains for a stunning fall drive.
Stowe also offers three beautiful covered bridges, each with its own story and unique design and surrounded by fall colours.
Stowe Tourism website
Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your trip.
